Buyer Beware! Counterfeit HAMILTON Tickets Abound

While tickets to the new show Hamilton continue to be one of the hottest commodities on Broadway, an article in yesterday's New York Times warns that counterfeit tickets to the critically acclaimed hip-hop musical are becoming more and more prevalent.

The article cites an example of a man who purchased two tickets for $600 from a Craigslist post as an anniversary gift for his wife. Unfortunately, when the couple arrived at the lobby of the Richard Rodgers Theatre for the January 2nd evening performance, they were informed by ushers that their tickets were indeed fake.

The Craigslist seller, identified only as 'Dan', explained to the purchaser that he was giving up the two coveted seats he received as a holiday gift because he had already seen the show. Although the scammed ticket buyer later noticed the performance date on the newly purchased tickets read 'January 2, 2015', he hoped it was merely a misprint. Unfortunately he learned otherwise later that evening, as he and his wife were informed by an usher, "Somebody must have printed a ton of these things."

Fred Santore Jr, the box office treasurer at the Richard Rodgers, told The Times that in his 34 years at the job, it was the first time he had ever seen "any counterfeit tickets to a show." He went on to reveal that since the show's Broadway opening in August, the theater turns away people with counterfeit tickets at least five times a week.

Back in October, Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda took to Twitter to caution ticket buyers about the fake ticket sellers. "I have friends who have been scammed on Craig and his so-called List," Miranda warned. "Don't buy Hamilton tickets off there please."

To promote awareness of fraudulent tickets, The New York Times tweeted a photo of a pair of counterfeit tickets to HAMILTON. Check it out below:

Read the article in full here.

The new musical Hamilton has book, music and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award-winning composerLin-Manuel Miranda, who also plays the title role. The musical is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and music direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire. Hamilton is inspired by Ron Chernow's biography "Alexander Hamilton."

The cast of Hamilton is comprised of Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Daveed Diggs(Marquis De Lafayette,Thomas Jefferson), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler),Christopher Jackson (George Washington),Jonathan Groff (King George), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy Schuyler, Maria Reynolds), Javier Muñoz (Hamilton alternate), Okieriete Onaodowan(Hercules Mulligan, James Madison), Leslie Odom, Jr. (Aaron Burr),Anthony Ramos(John Laurens, PhilipHamilton) and Phillipa Soo (Eliza Hamilton).

HAMILTON is the acclaimed new musical about the scrappy young immigrant Alexander Hamilton, the $10 Founding Father who forever changed America with his revolutionary ideas and actions. During his life cut too short, he served as George Washington's chief aide, was the first Treasury Secretary, a loving husband and father, despised by his fellow Founding Fathers and shot to death by Aaron Burr in their legendary duel.

Photo: Joan Marcus